Palestinian Union Warns of Massive Job Losses Amid Ongoing War

Palestinian Union Warns of Massive Job Losses Amid Ongoing War
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More than half a million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have lost their sources of income since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, Anadolu Agency reported. The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions said on Saturday that workers have been severely affected by prolonged closures, movement restrictions and frequent military raids, which have disrupted access to workplaces and economic activity.

In a statement, the federation said Israeli measures have driven unemployment to record levels, exceeding 50 percent in the West Bank and more than 84 percent in the Gaza Strip. It added that workers have suffered financial losses estimated at over $9 billion due to restrictions on movement and the widespread destruction of key productive sectors, including agriculture, construction and services.

The union also reported that at least 44 Palestinian workers have been killed since October 2023, with hundreds injured and more than 34,000 detained. It said many of the deaths occurred at military checkpoints or during attacks by Israeli settlers while workers were attempting to earn a living.

Holding Israel fully responsible, the federation said the impact on workers violates international labor standards and the Geneva Conventions. Palestinian officials say the broader conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries in Gaza, alongside rising casualties in the occupied West Bank, deepening the humanitarian and economic crisis across the Palestinian territories.